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The food industry is intensifying its effort to enrich food composition in various nutrients through animal feeding, but these challenges can be limited by the costly feed resources, water scarcity, and pesticide pollution, making it crucial to explore alternative feedstuffs with fewer requirements. Blackthorns and hawthorns are characterized by their rich phytochemical and antioxidant profiles, suggesting their potential to enhance the performance of ruminants though the supply of bioactive substances. Our study revealed their rich composition of micronutrients; hawthorns showed a remarkable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (57.23 g FAME/100 g total FAME), particularly omega-3 and omega-6, while blackthorn presented higher concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, specifically oleic acid (56.99 g FAME/100 g total FAME). In terms of lipo-soluble antioxidants, blackthorn exhibited higher levels of xanthophyll and vitamin E (123.83 mg/kg DM), including its isomers (alpha, gamma, and delta). Concerning the water-soluble antioxidants, hawthorns showed elevated composition of the total content of flavonoids and polyphenols, comparing with blackthorn. Moreover, hawthorns showed a high antioxidant capacity, as assessed through DPPH, ABTS, and TAC analyses. In terms of the scavenging capacity of blackthorn and hawthorn against superoxide radicals, blackthorn had higher radical scavenging potential against superoxide radicals, compared to hawthorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the effects of including linseeds or hempseeds in the diets of late lactation Murciano-Granadina dairy goats on the nutritional quality of the milk and cheese fat, expressed by the fatty acids profile and the healthy lipid indices. Thirty-six goats were randomly distributed in 3 groups of 12 animals each, according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design, and fed three different diets: group CON (control, with sunflower meal, 11.5% DM basis); group LIN, where sunflower meal was replaced by linseed; and group HMP, where sunflower meal was replaced by hempseeds. The replacement had no effects on the milk yields and the milk protein content as no significant differences were detected among groups. The significant increase of the fat content in the case of the LIN and HMP groups was accompanied by significant decreases in saturated fatty acids concentration and very significant increases in monounsaturated fatty acids. The content of n3 and n6-PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) increased, mainly due to a 4.1 times higher proportion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C 18:3n-3) in LIN diet milk and a 1.3 times higher proportion of linoleic acid (LA; C 18:2n6c) in HMP diet milk. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; isomer c9, t11) was 1.9 times higher for the LIN diet and 5.05 times higher for the HMP diet. Feeding either linseed or hempseeds contributed to the reduction of the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, increased the hypocholesterolemic: hypercholesterolemic ratio as well as the proportion of other desired fatty acids in the milk fat. The improved nutritional quality of milk, which has potentially far-reaching human health benefits, is maintained in cheese through the increase of the n3 and n6-PUFAs, especially for the LIN diet where the n6/n3 ratio decreased significantly, compared with the CON diet (3.62 vs. 6.88). The CLA concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for the HMP cheese compared with the CON diet (1.89% vs. 0.78%). These effects highlight the opportunity of obtaining dairy products with improved nutritional quality using local feed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study evaluated the impact of incorporating flax seeds or a flax and mustard seeds' mixture into goats' diets to enhance milk polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The incorporation of mustard seeds also aimed to slow the lipid oxidation process. A three-week feeding trial was conducted on 18 lactating goats, randomly distributed in three groups: control (C), FS (replacing 12% of the oil source with flax seeds), and FMS (replacing a quarter of flax seeds with mustard seeds). Flax seed inclusion improved the quality of milk fat by reducing saturated fatty acid concentration (p = 0.004) and increasing PUFA levels (p = 0.001). Both experimental groups significantly lowered the omega 6/omega 3 fatty acid ratio (p < 0.001). The FMS group showed a significantly higher total vitamin E concentration (p = 0.007). The fat oxidation parameters revealed that after 24 h of storage at room temperature, the p-anisidine value increased for the FS group compared to the C group, while the FSM group showed no significant difference, suggesting that the combined inclusion of flax and mustard seeds may prolong milk storage time by mitigating secondary oxidation products. This highlights the potential benefits of incorporating the studied seeds into goats' diets for improving milk quality and extending its shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary adaptation of the ruminant to convert pasture to animal products may have been successful, but ruminant production has an unwanted by-product (greenhouse gases), that is detrimental to the environment. The greenhouse effect is a term used to highlight the contribution of certain emitted gases to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere. The gases responsible for the greenhouse effect are: water, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone. Of the total GHG emissions in 2021, 10.7% were emitted by the agricultural sector. In developed countries, numerous research projects have been funded over time by which emission factors (of greenhouse gases) associated with various activities carried out at the level of a farm (e.g., feeding, manure management) or various influencing factors of them (e.g., the average temperature of the area). The present study aims to analyze characteristics of 19 carbon footprint estimation tools, developed and used all around the world, and to set the most suitable system for estimation on the ruminant farms level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's food industry, fortifying food products with several nutrients is a priority, and animal nutrition represents a key strategy for achieving this goal. Nevertheless, the scarcity and high costs of conventional feedstuffs lead to investigation of industrial by-products as alternative solutions in livestock nutrition. White grape pomace, a byproduct of the winery industry, is well-known for its rich resveratrol content. Nevertheless, in addition to this, it can present significant quantities of other nutrients and antioxidant compounds, which exert beneficial effects when incorporated into ruminants' nutrition. Our study revealed a remarkable concentration of the white grape pomace nutrients, with important minerals, particularly manganese (106.35 mg/kg). The fatty acids profile showed a high composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (65.05 g/100 g FAME), with a great amount of omega 3 fatty acids (62.66 g/100 g FAME). Concerning the antioxidant compounds, white grape pomace exhibited a concentration of 12.49 mg/g GAE for total polyphenols and 3.27 mg/kg for total flavonoids. Also, our study highlighted its high antioxidant potential, especially assessed through the DPPH radical scavenging assay (74.26 mM eq. Trolox), ABTS radical scavenging assay (75.07 mM eq. Trolox), and total antioxidant capacity (286.26 mM eq. ascorbic acid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brewer's spent yeast (BSY) is a byproduct of the beer industry, rich in proteins and bioactive compounds. The effects of BSY were investigated through a 6-week feeding trial on 30 lactating dairy Blackhead sheep (54.7 ± 5.66 kg, 177.34 days in milk) distributed under a completely randomised design in two groups: a control group (with soybean meal and sunflower meal as protein sources), and a BSY group, where soybean meal was totally replaced by BSY (5.4% inclusion, DM basis). The inclusion of BSY led to a 25% decrease in ruminal propionate and in the acetate/propionate ratio. BSY influenced the milk fatty acid profile by significantly decreasing the omega 6: omega 3 ratio and increasing the contents of caproic, capric, and lauric acids. Also, the inclusion of BSY was associated with an increase in the milk's total polyphenols. Consistently, determinations of the parameters of the milk fat's oxidative stability revealed a decrease in conjugated diene contents. Moreover, the mineral contents of milk were influenced, with an increase in Ca content noted. Overall, these results indicate that BSY represents an alternative feedstuff for ruminants' nutrition, which could have the potential to induce changes in ruminal fermentation and milk composition that are beneficial for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a complex fatty acid profile, milk is the subject of several oxidation processes that are different to those in other food matrices. Considering this, is important to appreciate the degradation status of milk using rapid and simple methods to quantify the main degradation products. The aim of this study was to adapt a simple and rapid method for determination of milk oxidative stability and to quantify malondialdehyde, one of the lipid oxidation products. Four parameters (trichloroacetic acid concentration—TCA, antioxidant type, incubation time, and thiobarbituric acid—TBA concentration) were modified to establish the best experimental sequence. It was concluded that the relevant results were obtained by precipitating milk proteins using 20% TCA; incubating samples for 90 min with 0.8% TBA, without adding antioxidant; and registering absorbance at three different wavelengths (450, 495, and 532 nm). This method was successfully applied to cow and sheep milk samples and the absorbance values obtained provided information about degradation of fatty acids for both milk types. The Pearson correlation showed a positive relationship between the fatty acid profiles of milk samples and the absorbance values that characterized their oxidation pattern during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustard and grapeseed meals are low-cost by-products generated by the oil industry. We aimed to investigate the effects of fiber level on the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the ileum and cecum, as well as the microflora and enteric methane (E-CH4) in pigs. A total of 70 Topigs hybrid pigs, 56 ± 3 days old, 20.96 ± 0.26 kg live weight, were randomly allotted to two feeding groups: (i) SM diet based on sunflower meal; (ii) MG diet based on mustard × grapeseed oil meals (MG-mixt). VFA profiles were determined by gas chromatography. E-CH4 was calculated using our trial data along with prediction equations. The MG-mixt slightly decreased growth parameters but improved daily feed efficiency and gain cost. The MG diet increased the concentration of VFAs and the microflora level. The higher VFA level recorded in the cecum (+53.93%) was correlated with a lower pH level (Spearman correlation coefficient, rho = −0.529, p < 0.001). In relation to DM intake and energy retention, E-CH4 recorded a highly significant decline in the MG group (<9.42%). A strong relationship was recorded among VFAs, microflora, predicted E-CH4, and fiber and NDF intake. The VFAs could be predictors for the E-CH4 level (p < 0.001). A significant relationship between E-CH4 and total VFAs was noted (rho = −0.462, p = 0.04). We conclude that MG-mixt has the potential to replace sunflower meal, with the minor drawbacks being balanced by the advantages provided in terms of feed efficiency, E-CH4 mitigation, and VFA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a major problem for public health, with an increased incidence and impact on life quality. The effect of pre- and probiotic combination has been less studied in IBD. Using genomic and proteomic array technologies, this study examined the efficacy of a new combination of natural alternatives: prebiotics (grape pomace extract, GP) and probiotics (lactobacilli mixture, Lb mix) on inflammation and intracellular signalling routes in a cellular model of inflammation. Caco-2 cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h were treated with GP extract (50 μg/ml gallic acid equivalent) and Lb combination (3 × 108 colony-forming units/ml total Lb) for 24 h. The profile expressions of forty key inflammatory markers and twenty-six signalling kinases were analysed. Other markers involved in inflammation were also investigated (NF- κ B/RELA, Nrf2, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, Cyp1A1, Cyp1B1); 57·5 and 60 % of investigated genes and proteins, respectively, were down-regulated by the synbiotic combination. Relevant cytokines and chemokines involved in response to microbial infection and inflammation were reduced under the level induced by LPS treatment and toward the unchallenged control. As expected, the reduction effect seems to imply mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF- κ B pathway. Most of the signalling molecules activated by LPS were decreased by GP extract and Lb mix. Our study indicates that the synbiotic combination of GP extract and Lactobacillus sp. mixture exerted anti-inflammatory properties, which are able to decrease the majority of inflammatory genes, their proteins and associated signalling markers. Due to protective role of GP compounds on lactobacilli probiotic, this synbiotic combination might serve as a promising adjunctive therapy in intestinal inflammations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ruminants partially use the dietary protein in the rumen step of digestion. The undegraded part of this protein and also, its digestion in the stomach and small intestine vary depending on the type of feedstuff. The intestinal digestibility of the rumen undegraded protein RUP can be evaluated by the 3-steps in vitro method. In this study it was validated this method using the Ankom technology for two feeds: soybean meal and alfalfa hay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is known that heat treatment of cereal grains generally improves the nutritional value for ruminants, simultaneous information on rumen degradability and intestinal digestibility of the rumen by-pass is scarce, especially for non-starch constituents. The effect of steam flaking at 90°C for 30 min on protein quality of maize, wheat, and barley was studied. In addition to proximal chemical analyses, protein rumen degradability was determined in vitro and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein was determined using the mobile bag method. No significant effects of steam flaking on chemical composition of cereal grains (crude protein, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and starch) were observed. The protein fractions that are relevant to rumen degradability were significantly influenced by the steam flaking: the non-protein nitrogen fraction (A) was reduced (P < 0.05) by 43-93% for all three cereal grains, whereas the fraction that represents true soluble protein (B1) was reduced (P < 0.05) for wheat grains (by 77%) and barley (by 93%). Although the difference was not significant, a decrease of 41% for B1 fraction was also observed for maize. On the other hand, steam flaking markedly increased buffer insoluble but neutral detergent soluble protein fraction (B2) by 15-25% for all three cereal grains, whereas effects on B3 fraction were not significant. Steam flaking was also associated with an increase of the rumen undegradable protein fraction (C) in the case of barley, from 6.6 to 11.1% of total N (P < 0.05) and wheat, from 5.2 to 8.4% of the total N (P < 0.05). Overall, the changes of the protein fractions led to a considerable increase of the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) for all steam-flaked cereal grains (P < 0.05). Steam flaking also increased (P < 0.05) intestinal digestibility of RUP of the cereal grains (by 3.6-34.8%), leading to a more efficient protein use in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen N levels on ruminant digestibility of 18 different Romanian barley genotypes grown in 2013/2014 year. The experiment was designed as randomized blocks and two levels of N were tested: 46 and 92 kg ha-1 (blocks N-46 and N-92) and compared to control block N-0, without nitrogen. The grains were analyzed for chemical composition and in vitro ruminant digestibility IVOMD. The resulted grains yield (t/ha) was significantly lowered by the 92 kg ha-1 N level. The same N fertilization level had a significant effect on increasing the crude protein content. But the mean IVOMD coefficient (%) of all genotypes was significantly decreased for both the N levels (84.45 for N-46, and 83.19 for N-92 compared to 86.92 for N-0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The effect of a diet containing 15% grape pomace ( GP) on the general health status and milk quality of dairy cows was assessed by plasma biochemistry and total polyphenol ( TP) content, milk polyphenols, milk composition and milk protein fractions. RESULTS Among the polyphenols measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy in GP, in feed containing GP ( GP+) or not containing GP ( GP-), gallic acid and epicatechin were present in the highest concentrations (67.58 and 19.23 µg mL−1, respectively). Higher amounts of TP were also detected in the blood plasma of GP+ cows (114.06 and 83.93 mg GAE L−1, respectively) but not in their milk (233.17 and 245.75 mg GAE L−1, respectively). Also a significant increase was found for lactose and β-lactoglobulin, although there was no effect on α-lactalbumin, albumin, secretory components and caseins. CONCLUSION Inclusion of 15% GP in the diets of dairy cows is beneficial for overall normal blood constituent metabolism and helps to maintain cow health. The milk of cows fed with a GP diet preserves the normal levels of fat, protein and caseins, and has increased levels of components that make this milk a versatile ingredient material for the food industry (e.g. model whey powders, stability of lactose-rich powders). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study concerning the effect of dried grape pomace (DGP) in fatty acids (FA) composition of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and plasma polyphenols spectrumin as fed diets in finishing hybrid pigs.

The article reviews published data on two novel coproducts originating from corn milling: high-protein distillers' grain (HPDG) and reduced-fat distillers' grain (RFDG). Based on a literature survey over the last decade, this article focuses on their chemical composition and, consequently, nutritive value and on the effects of their inclusion in ruminants' diets on rumen activity and animal performance. Compared to the classic distillers' grains, the two new coproducts expressed lower variability of their chemical composition, nutritive value, and specific feeding characteristics, allowing more targeted feeding strategies (protein balancing, avoidance of milk fat depression, etc.). Thus, HPDG has significantly higher crude protein content (~44%), lower fat content (~4.3%), and lower fibre content (~26.8% neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and ~12.3% acid detergent fibre (ADF)) compared to the classical distillers grains. In the case of RFDG, only the fat content is significantly lower (~4.8%), whereas the crude protein content (~32.1%) and the fibre content (~36.1% NDF and ~14.7% ADF) are only slightly lower compared to the classical distillers grains. On this basis, HPDG can successfully replace classic high-protein meals, such as soybean meal, thus providing high levels of rumen undegradable protein, although it has the same amino acid limitations as the originating raw material, corn grains. The use of RFDG instead of the classical distillers' grains allows much higher dietary inclusion, without adverse effects on rumen metabolism and animal performances. A further development of the two coproducts and further diversification of corn coproducts, allowing better solutions to various feeding situations, is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grape pomace (GP) is a residue generated by the wine industry that is produced in large quantities. This work aims to describe the beneficial effects replacing 5% of the corn in the diet of piglets with grape pomace. GP, besides other components, contains some important bioactive compounds called polyphenols. The study shows that the polyphenols from a 5% grape pomace diet are absorbed into the blood of piglets that receive it. These bioactive molecules have a beneficial action on the health status of the animals and also increase the antioxidant activity in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, which are key organs in the metabolism of the nutrients. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of a diet containing 5% dried GP on the antioxidant status (total antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase-CAT, superoxide dismutase-SOD, and gluthatione peroxidase-GPx), and lipid peroxidation) on the key organs of the liver, kidneys, and spleen in relation to health status as indicated by blood biochemical parameters and total polyphenol content in the blood, organs (liver, spleen, kidney, mesenteric lymph nodes, heart, and brain) and Longissimus dorsi muscle in piglets. The GP diet results in a significant increase of TAS in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, with increased CAT activity in the spleen and kidneys, increased SOD activity in the liver, kidneys, and spleen, and increased GPx activity in the kidneys, as well as a decrease in lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidneys. The GP included in the piglets' feed contained polyphenols that showed antioxidant activity and were absorbed in the plasma, contributing to maintaining the good health of the animals. The inclusion of 5% GP inclusion in the diets of piglets is beneficial for overall normal blood constituent metabolism and helps to maintain piglet health by increasing the polyphenol content in blood plasma and antioxidant activity in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]