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Background. Due to the harmful effects resulting from the addition of antibiotics to treat diseases affecting poultry and their use as growth promoter, it was necessary to have safe alternatives such as organic acids and probiotics, which work to provide an appropriate pH for activity of beneficial bacteria and reducing the numbers of harmful pathogenic bacteria. Objective. To assess the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics, with or without organic acids (acetic, propionic, and benzoic) on growth performance, carcass quality, digestibility, intestinal development, gut microbiota, and serum parameters of broiler chicks. Methodology. A total number of 250 one-day old, unsexed Ross (308) broiler chicks, were equally assigned to five feeding treatments (50 birds/treatment, five replicates of ten birds/treatment) as follows: T1 (control); fed a basal diet (BD), T2; fed BD + 2g commercial probiotics (PRO)/kg diet, T3: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml acetic acid/kg diet, T4: fed BD + 2g PRO/kg diet + 10 ml propionic acid/ kg diet, and T5: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml benzoic acid / kg diet. The trial prolonged from day 1 to day 42 of age. Results. Compared to the control, the results revealed that body weight and body weight gain were significantly improved at 3 and 6 wks of age as a result of supplementing the diets with probiotics and organic acids (especially benzoic acid). The positive impacts of the supplements on FCR were more pronounced from 4-6 weeks and for the overall period (0-6 wks). No mortalities occurred when organic acids were supplemented. The tested supplements also decreased bacterial counts of ileal E. coli. Moreover, probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment (T5) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the ileal lactobacilli count. Carcass traits, internal organs and GIT histological parameters were positively affected by different treatments, especially probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment. The supplements improved ALT, AST and ALP activity and decreased cholesterol and triglycerides content in blood serum (P

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary zinc sources on the diarrhea rate, intestinal morphology, immune indexes and intestinal microbial composition of weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), at the age of 21 days, were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments for a four-week feeding trial to determine the effects of different amounts of tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC) supplementation on intestinal morphology, intestinal immune indices and intestinal microflora in weaned piglets, compared with the pharmacological dose of ZnO. The dietary treatments included a negative control (CON), (T1) ZnO (ZnO, 1500 mg/kg), (T2) tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC, 800 mg/kg), (T3) tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC, 1000 mg/kg), and (T4) tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC, 1200 mg/kg). Each treatment comprised six replicate pens, with eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) per pen. Dietary TBZC of 1200 mg/kg improved the duodenum villus height, jejunum villus height and crypt depth of ileum, and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of ileum (p p < 0.05) decreased pH values of stomach contents. It also increased the number of Firmicutes in intestinal contents. Compared with CON, the abundance of Firmicutes in jejunum contents of other treatments was significantly improved (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Proteobacteria in ileum contents of high-zinc treatments (T2 and T5) was decreased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary TBZC of 1200 mg/kg improved the digestibility of crude protein in weaned piglets, altered the intestinal morphology of piglets, changed the intestinal microflora of piglets, reduced the diarrhea rate, and significantly improved the development of the small intestine of weaned piglets, and its regulation mechanism on intestinal tract needs further study. In summary, TBZC is likely to be an effective substitute source for the pharmacological dose of ZnO to control diarrhea in weaned piglets.

To optimize the utilization of fermented maize stover (FMS) feed during the fattening phase of Xianghai flying geese (XFG), a total of 300 XFG at 125 days of age were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups with three replicates of 25 in each set. Group A was fed the basal fattening diet, while the B, C, and D groups were fed the basic fattening diet and diets supplemented with 5%, 10% or 15% FMS, respectively. The findings indicate that the production performance indicators (especially the dressed, eviscerated and breast muscle yield) of Group D closely resembled Group A more than Groups B and C. Intestinal morphometry found that the jejunal villus height and the villus height/crypt depth were significantly increased in Group D compared to Group A. Next, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the extracted DNA revealed that beneficial microbiota (Coprococcus and Victivallis) showed increased abundance in Group D. Cecal flora function analysis further revealed that some amino acid and glycerol biosynthesis were found to be associated with growth performance in geese. These findings suggest that incorporating 15% FMS as a substitute for a portion of the feed during the fattening phase of XFG can effectively sustain their production performance, optimize the gut microbial community and morphometrical traits, provide new insight into using non-conventional feed resources to reduce feed cost and improve economic benefits in the breeding industry.

Th e aim of this study was to evaluate the eff ect of adding diff erent dosages of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, and gut microfl ora of broilers. Th e study was conducted on 270 oneday old chickens (Ross 308) during a 42-day period. Broilers were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments that diff ered in the content of added yeast: no additional yeast; with 0.25 g/kg; and with 0.65 g/kg of added yeast. Each experimental group contained 90 animals. Th e results from our study showed that diet supplemented with 0.25 g/kg of yeast resulted in better growth performance and carcass quality (P

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using low energy diet with multi-enzymes supplementation on different biological parameters in broilers. Methods Three hundred Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into three groups (Cont, standard metabolizable energy(ME); L-ME, ME reduced by 50 kcal/kg without enzyme; and L-ME-MES, L-ME diet was supplemented with multi-enzymes) with five replicates per group (20 chicks per replicate) at the start of second week. Grower and finisher diets were formulated according to breed specific guide and offered with free access in respective phase (two weeks for grower [8 to 21 d]; two weeks for finisher [22 to 35 d]). External marker method was used to measure the nutrient digestibility. After feeding trial, fifteen birds (one bird per replicate) were selected randomly and slaughtered for samples collection. Results The results exhibited no effect (p>0.05) of dietary treatments on all parameters of growth performance, carcass traits, relative weight of internal organs except bursa and overall parameters of thigh meat quality. Relative weight of bursa was significantly (p

A total of 432, ISA Brown growing pullets were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing Turmeric, Clove and Turmeric + Clove on growth performance and intestinal morphology. The birds were divided into 36 groups of 12 each weighed and allotted into experimental units. A total of nine experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 1 and 2% turmeric, 0, 1 and 2% clove, and 0, 1 and 2% turmeric + clove combination on a 1:1 basis, respectively, in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (turmeric × clove × turmeric + clove: 0 × 1 × 2), replicated four times. The birds were weighed weekly to determine their body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment, 27 birds were sacrificed, and the duodenum, jejunum and ileum segments of the gastro intestinal tract were removed for gut histo-morphometry. Results showed that level of inclusion of feed additives significantly influenced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed 1 and 2% inclusion of feed additive had reduced feed intake and lower FCR value when compared to higher FI and FCR values recorded in birds fed 0% inclusion of additives. Duodenal, jejunal and ilea morphology were significantly influenced by turmeric, clove, turmeric + clove, inclusion levels and treatment interaction. Birds fed diet containing turmeric + clove have significantly longer duodenal and jejunal villi as well as best duodenal and jejunal villus height: crypt depth ratio. It was concluded that up to 2% turmeric and turmeric + clove can be included in growing pullet’s diet for improved performance. Inclusion of turmeric, clove and turmeric + clove improved morphological changes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds which might influence nutrient absorption and thus, improved FCR.

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary yeast hydrolysate (YH) supplementation on intestinal morphology, barrier, and anti-inflammatory functions of broilers. Methods A total of 320 one day old male broilers were randomly allocated into four groups with eight replicates of ten broilers each. The broilers were supplemented with a basal diet (the control group) or basal diets adding 50, 100, 150 mg/kg YH, respectively. This trial lasted for 42 days. The orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to determine the linear and quadratic effects of increasing levels of YH. Results In our previous research, supplementing YH improved growth performance by enhancing body weight gain but decreased feed-to-gain ratio. In this study, compared with the control group, dietary YH addition linearly and quadratically decreased serum diamine oxidase activity (p

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) with organic acids (OA) on growth performance, fecal score, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs. Methods A total of 120 weaning pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) with an average body weight (BW) of 8.00±0.87 kg were assigned in five treatments considering sex and initial BW in 3 replications with 8 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal based basal diet with or without 0.1% or 0.2% MCT and 0.1% OA. The pigs were fed the diets for 5 weeks (phase 1, 0 to 2 weeks; phase 2, 3 to 5 weeks). A total of 15 barrows with an average BW of 12.48±0.37 kg were used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility by total collection method. The BW and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase. Blood samples and small intestine samples were collected at the end of each phase, too. Results Supplementing 0.1% MCT with 0.1% OA showed greater BW for week 5 and average daily gain (ADG) for overall period than control diet. Supplementing 0.1% MCT increased (p

BackgroundStress causes inflammation that impairs intestinal barrier function. Dietary spray-dried plasma (SDP) has recognized anti-inflammatory effects and improvement of gut barrier function. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary SDP on intestinal morphology of mated female mice under stress condition.ResultsVillus height, width, and area of small intestines were low on gestation day (GD) 3 or 4 under stress conditions, and higher later (Time, P

To investigate the effects of dietary tributyrin (TB) and alanyl-glutamine (AGn) on the intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed with high-level soybean meal (SM) diet, six isonitrogenous (41.36%) and isolipidic (10.25%) diets were formulated and fed to largemouth bass (initial body weight 25.5 ± 0.5g) for 8 weeks. The two control diets contained 34.8% peanut meal (PM) and 41.3% SM, while the other four experimental diets supplemented TB at 0.1% (TB0.1), 0.2% (TB0.2) and AGn at 1% (AGn1), 2% (AGn2) in SM, respectively. The results showed that there were no significant differences in weight gain, survival rate, and hepatosomatic index among all groups (P>0.05), while feed coefficient rate in AGn1, AGn2 and TB0.2 groups was significantly lower than that in SM group (P< 0.05). Compared with the PM group, the intestinal inflammation of largemouth bass in SM group were obvious, accompanied by the damage of intestinal structure, the decrease of digestive enzyme activity, and the up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Compared with the SM group, the activities of intestinal trypsin, lipase and foregut amylase in TB and AGn groups increased significantly (P

The global demand for sustainably produced protein feeds for animal production is increasing. Methanotrophic bacteria grow on methane and convert it into microbial cell protein (MCP) that has been shown to have high nutritive value for growing pigs. The present aimed to investigate how increasing amounts of MCP in diets fed during the first 15 days after weaning affect the growth performance of piglets from weaning until day 43 postweaning. Furthermore, the effect of MCP on intestinal morphology and histopathology was assessed on day 15 after weaning. During seven consecutive weeks, approximately 480 piglets were recruited for the experiment per batch. The piglets were divided into four groups and housed in eight double pens with 60 piglets per pen. The piglets were fed one of four experimental diets with 0, 3, 6, or 10% of MCP included at the expense of fishmeal and subsequently potato protein for the first 15 days postweaning. Thereafter, all pigs were fed commercial weaner diets in two phases (days 16–30 and days 31–43) until day 43 postweaning. All diets were without medicinal zinc. Feed intake and growth were registered on double pen level during all three phases. On day 15 after weaning, 10 piglets per treatment were randomly selected, autopsied, and sampled for intestinal morphology and histopathology. Daily gain during the first 15 days postweaning tended (P = 0.09) to be affected by the inclusion of MCP in the weaning diet being lowest in the group fed 10% MCP. Treatment did not affect daily feed intake; however, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was significantly affected (P = 0.003) showing the highest FCR in piglets fed 10% MCP. Growth performance was not affected by the experimental treatment during the following phases. In the small intestine, villous height tended (P = 0.09) to show a quadratic response to level of MCP in the diet with the longest villi observed after feeding 6% MCP. Dietary treatment did not affect crypt depth. The villous height to crypt depth (VC) ratio showed a quadratic response to increased dietary inclusion of MCP (P = 0.02) with piglets fed 6% MCP having the highest VC ratio. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that MCP could constitute 6% of diets as-fed (22% of total CP), at the expense of fishmeal and potato protein, for newly weaned piglets without negative effects on growth rates and FCR. The inclusion of MCP in diets for newly weaned piglets could be part of improving the sustainability of pig production.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coating technology on the cysteamine (CSH) release in the digestive tract and the growth-promoting effect of enteric-coating CSH in broilers. First, using the self-developed computer-controlled simulated digestion system to mimic the digestion process in vitro, the release of 2 coated CSH (CSH-I and CSH-Ⅱ) were studied. The results showed that less than 10% of CSH-I was released after gastric digestion and 52.35% of CSH-I was released with additional 4 h of small intestinal digestion. In contrast, 83.62% of CSH-Ⅱ was released during the gastric digestion. In order to verify the growth-promoting effects of CSH-I, a feeding trial was conducted in a completely randomized block arrangement with 3 treatments in 6 blocks, 5 chickens per replicate. Broilers were fed with corn-soybean meal diet either supplemented with 0 (CON), 200 mg/kg uncoated CSH (CSH) or 200 mg/kg CSH-I from d 7 to 42, respectively. Body weight and FI was recorded at d 21 and 42. Excreta were collected from d 39 to d 42 to determine the total tract retention (TTR) of dietary nutrients. In comparisons with controls, birds fed with CSH-I had greater BW, ADG, and ADFI and increased TTR of DM, gross energy (GE), NDF and hemicellulose (P < 0.05). In addition, duodenal villi height and surface area were also greater in those CSH-I-fed birds. In contrast, the growth performance of birds fed with uncoated CSH did not significantly differ from controls. Although the TTR of DM and GE was higher in birds fed with CSH than controls, no differences in small intestine morphology were noted. Thus, the type I coating (CSH-I) could be good enteric-coating technology to increase CSH release in the duodenum, improve digestion and duodenal morphology, and therefore growth performance in broilers.

ABSTRACT: Re-emergence of enteric diseases in the postantibiotic era has imposed severe loss to the poultry industry leading to the urgent need for appropriate additives to maintain gut health. Recently, more attention has been paid to animal plasma due to its high concentrations of active components such as albumins and globulins. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDP) supplementation during the starter phase (d 0–10) on growth performance, intestine health, and immune response of broilers under necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge. A total of 720 day-old male broiler parental line chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to a 2 (NE challenge: no, yes) × 2 (SDP: 0, 2%) factorial arrangement with 12 replications of 15 chicks each. To induce NE, birds were inoculated with live Eimeria vaccine on d 9 and Clostridium perfringens on d 14. The body weight of birds and feed consumption were measured per pen on d 8, 10, 24, and 29 to calculate performance parameters. On d 16, three birds per pen were sampled to analyse the intestinal lesion score, gut permeability, villi morphology, relative weight of organs, and immune response. Results showed that SDP improved (P < 0.001) FCR in the pre-challenge phase (d 0–8). The results indicated that supplementing SDP lowered (P < 0.01) FCR at the end of the experiment (d 29). Dietary SDP decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of FITC-d in serum samples of challenged broilers, although it did not affect the intestinal morphology and lesion score. Birds fed with SDP had a higher (P < 0.05) relative weight of bursa (g/kg live body weight) compared to non-supplemented birds. Supplementing SDP reduced the concentration of interleukin-6 (P < 0.05) and α-1 acid glycoprotein (P = 0.051) in serum samples of broilers. In conclusion, supplementation of SDP in the starter phase enhanced feed efficiency and gut integrity in NE challenged broilers, possibly through manipulating the immune response, while further studies targeting intestinal microflora and key genes are required to explore the mode of action.

SUMMARY: Supplementation of feed enzymes such as xylanases has been shown to lower intestinal digesta viscosity and improve nutrient digestion thereby resulting in better gut health due to the reduced availability of undigested nutrients for the growth of harmful bacteria. Oligosaccharides produced by xylanase in situ from dietary non-starch polysaccharides with potential prebiotic effects could modulate the gut microbiome. This paper reports the positive effects of a new monocomponent xylanase in improving performance and nutrient digestion and modulating the intestinal microbiota of broilers. A corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet was formulated and used to develop 3 dietary treatments using different doses (0, 45,000 U/kg and 90,000 U/kg) of the xylanase. A total of 288, one-day-old male broiler (Ross 308) chicks were allocated to 36 cages (12 replicates per treatment and 8 chicks per cage) and offered the experimental diets from d 0 to 21 post-hatch. The data were subjected to ANOVA using the General Linear Models procedure of SAS. The results confirm that supplemental xylanase at both dose levels improved (P < 0.05) broiler performance and nutrient digestibility. Xylanase supplementation had significant (P < 0.05) effects in modulating the intestinal microbiota with a higher relative abundance of commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus and a lower abundance of potentially non-beneficial bacteria such as E. shigella indicating a prebiotic mode of action.

Salmonella infection is a major public health issue worldwide. Given the alarming increase in infections with antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and side effects of synthetic antibiotics, there is an increasing interest in medicinal plants as natural alternatives to synthetic drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The present study investigated the biological properties and health-promoting effects of microencapsulated phenolic compounds of Teucrium polium leaves as a dietary phytobiotic in mice challenged by Salmonella enteritidis. Microcapsules showed a capsulation efficiency of 93.6% with a particle size of 1261.8 nm with antioxidant and antibacterial activities in-vitro. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of various phenolic compounds, i.e., ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, salicylic acid, catechin, ellagic acid, and chrysin ranged between 121.6 and 975.3 µg/g DW. The microencapsulated phenolics exhibited improvement in the growth, liver function, morphometric parameters of ileum, antioxidant- and inflammation-related gene expression and inhibited the ileal population of S. enteritidis in mice challenged by S. enteritidis infection. The microencapsulated phenolics from T. polium leaves could be a promising phytobiotic approach to combat S. enteritidis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed restriction after weaning is a common strategy used in commercial rabbit farms to improve feed efficiency, promote health, and reduce mortality. However, few studies have investigated the feed restrictions of Minxinan black rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Thus, the effects of feed restriction on growth and slaughter performance, intestinal morphology, and blood biochemical indices of Minxinan black rabbits were evaluated in this study. Rabbits in group A (control group) had ad libitum intake, while those in feed restriction groups (groups B, C, and D) were restricted to 80% of the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of group A the day before. The rabbits in group B were fed once per day at 8:00 am. Rabbits in groups C and D were fed twice per day at 8:00 am (50%) and 4:00 pm (50%) and 8:00 am (30%) and 4:00 pm (70%), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Compared to that in group A, the diarrhea rate of group C was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the ADFI, feed conversion ratio, abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat rate, total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein, and intestinal crypt depth of all feed restriction groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Feed conversion ratio in group D was significantly better than that in groups B and C (P < 0.05). The efficiency index (EI) of groups C and D was higher than that of groups A and B (P < 0.01). Triglyceride levels in groups C and D were significantly lower than those in group A. The villus length to crypt depth of the duodenum and jejunum in group D was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the following parameters can be improved by feed restriction: feed conversion ratio, diarrhea rate, abdominal fat rate, serum ALT, lipid indices and intestinal health of Minxinan black rabbits, and the EI of the farm. Feeding twice per day, 30% at 8:00 am and 70% at 4:00 pm, had the best comprehensive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spermidine is a class of biologically active organic small molecules that play an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. The specific objective of this study was to explore the effects of spermidine on intestinal morphology, metabolites, and microbial diversity in mice. We showed that 0.3 mmol/L of spermidine significantly promoted the growth of ileal villi (p < 0.05), and 3.0 mmol/L of spermidine significantly increased the body weight of mice and promoted the growth of jejunum villi (p < 0.05). The 16S rDNA sequencing results indicated that 3.0 mmol/L of spermidine affected the balance of the intestinal flora by increasing the abundance of intestinal Lactic acid bacteria and reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria (Turicibacter and Alistipes). Additionally, spermidine affects the levels of microbial metabolites such as succinic acid and Pantetheine. In summary, spermidine affects intestinal morphology and regulates intestinal flora and metabolites, and this study has provided a new understanding of spermidine's effects on the intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics or direct-fed microbials (DFM) have proven strong potential for improving aquaculture sustainability. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with the DFM Bacillus amyloliquefaciens US573 on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota (GM) of European sea bass. For this purpose, healthy fish were divided into two feeding trials in triplicate of 25 fish in each tank. The fish were fed with a control basal diet or a DFM-supplemented diet for 42 days. Results showed that, while no significant effects on growth performance were observed, the length and abundance of villi were higher in the DFM-fed group. The benefic effects of DFM supplementation included also the absence of cysts formation and the increase in number of goblet cells playing essential role in immune response. Through DNA metabarcoding analysis of GM, 5 phyla and 14 major genera were identified. At day 42, the main microbiome changes in response to B. amyloliquefaciens US573 addition included the significant decrease in abundance of Actinobacteria phylum that perfectly correlates with a decrease in Nocardia genus representatives which represent serious threat in marine and freshwater fish. On the contrary, an obvious dominance of Betaproteobacteria associated with the abundance in Variovorax genus members, known for their ability to metabolize numerous substrates, was recorded. Interestingly, Firmicutes, particularly species affiliated to the genus Sporosarcina with recent promising probiotic potential, were identified as the most abundant. These results suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens US573 can be effectively recommended as health-promoting DFM in European sea bass farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of encapsulated essential oils (EOs) on the gut microbiota, growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant properties and barrier function of meat-type ducks. A total of 320 male Cherry Valley ducks (1 day old), were randomly assigned to four dietary experimental groups with eight replicates of ten ducks each. The groups consisted of the CON group (basal diet), the HEO group (basal diet + EO 1000 mg/kg), the LEO group (basal diet + EO 500 mg/kg), and the ANT group (basal diet + chlortetracycline 50 mg/kg). Our findings indicated that ducks fed with EO 1000 mg/kg had greater average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and body weight (BW) and a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the other groups. The serum concentration of TG reduced in the HEO (p > 0.05) and LEO (p < 0.05) groups on day 42, while the concentration of CHOL increased with the EO concentration in the LEO (p > 0.05) and HEO (p < 0.05) groups. No differences were observed in the ileal mucosa for the activities of SOD, MPO and GSH-PX after EO dietary treatment. Dietary supplementation with EOs significantly increased the villus heights (p < 0.01) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (c/v) in the duodenum and jejunum of ducks. Moreover, the mRNA expressions of Claudin1 and Occludin in the jejunal mucosa were observed to be higher in the LEO and HEO groups rather than the CON and ANT groups on d 42. The α diversity showed that the HEO group improved the bacterial diversity and abundance. The β diversity analysis indicated that the microbial structures of the four groups were obviously separated. EO dietary supplementation could increase the relative abundance (p < 0.01) of the Bacteroidetes phylum, Bacteroidaceae family, and Bacteroides, Desulfovibrio, Phascolarctobacterium, and Butyricimonas genera in the cecal microbiota of ducks. We demonstrated significant differences in the bacterial composition and functional potential of the gut microbiota in ducks that were fed either an EO diet or a basal diet. Therefore, supplemented EOs was found to have a positive effect on the growth performance and intestinal health of ducks, which was attributed to the improvement in cecal microbiota, intestinal morphology, and barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to study the effect of adding Clostridium butyricum in diet on growth performance, serum immune function, antioxidant capacity and intestinal morphology of weaned piglets. A total of 240 healthy weaned piglets at the age of (21±1) d were randomly divided into four groups, with three replicates in each group and 20 piglets in each replicate. Piglets in group A (control group) were fed with basal diet, and piglets in group B, group C and group D were fed with basal diet supplemented with 15, 30 and 60 g/t Clostridium butyricum, respectively. The test period was 35 d. The results showed that the average daily weight gain of piglets in group C and group D was increased significantly on the 15th to 35th day of experiment (P<0.05). The average daily feed intake and average daily gain of piglets in group C was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the serum IgG content of piglets in each test group were significantly increased on the 15th and 35th day of weaning (P<0.05), and the serum IgA contents of piglets in group C and group D were significantly increased on the 35th day of weaning (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the serum T-AOC of piglets in group C and group D was significantly increased on the 15th day of weaning (P<0.05), and the serum T-AOC of piglets in group C was significantly increased on the 35th day of weaning (P<0.05). The activity of SOD and CAT in serum of piglets in group C and group D were significantly increased on the 15th and 35th day of weaning (P<0.05), the serum MDA content of piglets in each test group decreased significantly on the 35th day of weaning (P<0.05), Compared with control group, the caecum VH of piglets in each test group increased significantly on the 15th and 35th day of weaning (P<0.05), and the caecum VH/CD in group C increased significantly (P<0.05). The ileal VH and VH/CD of piglets in each experimental group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the ileal CD was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding 30~60 g/t of Clostridium butyricum to diet can increase the average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain of weaned piglets in the later period, improve the immune function and antioxidant capacity of piglets, and promote intestinal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of dietary chitosan on growth, antioxidant, immunity, intestinal morphology and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila of hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser baerii♀ × Acipenser schrenckii ♂). Sturgeons (18.18 ± 0.08 g) were randomly divided into four groups, fed with chitosan-supplemented diets for 8 weeks and then infected with A. hydrophila. The results showed significant differences of body weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio in sturgeon fed chitosan and control diets. The oral administration of chitosan significantly increased the acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, as well as the complement 3 and 4 contents and disease resistance against A. hydrophila. Moreover, enhancement of muscular thickness and goblet cells in mid intestine and increase of muscular thickness and villus height in spiral valve were observed in the chitosan supplemented groups. In addition, dietary chitosan-supplemented diets mitigated the changes of antioxidant and immune activity induced by A. hydrophila challenge, as well as prevented fish from bacterial invasion. The optimal dose was 3.00 g chitosan/kg diet for hybrid sturgeon. • Chitosan increased body weight, antioxidant and immune activity of hybrid sturgeon. • Chitosan improved the intestine enzyme activity and morphology in hybrid sturgeon. • Chitosan mitigated changes of antioxidant and immune activity induced by infection. • Chitosan inhibited the bacteria invasion and protected fish from bacterial infection. • The optimal chitosan level for hybrid sturgeon was recommended as 3.00 g/kg diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary amino acids (AA) supplied as protein or in free form are not only digested and absorbed at different rates but can also induce differences in the intestinal physiology of pigs. We compared the apparent jejunal AA digestibility, intestinal morphology, and gene expression of AA transporters of pigs fed diets providing different forms of AA. Thirty growing pigs (33.7 ± 4.1 kg) were fed one of three experimental diets that provided AA either as protein from feather meal (INT), as free AA and small peptides obtained by extensive acid hydrolysis of feathers (HYD), or as a mix of individual purified AA with the same AA profile as HYD (FAA). Pigs were fed the same quantity of feed, energy, and AA. After 14 d, pigs were slaughtered 3 h after feeding a meal with indigestible markers. Digesta and tissue were collected from different sections of the small intestine. Jejunal digesta was used to measure apparent jejunal digestibility of AA. Samples of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were used to measure intestinal morphology and the gene expression of intestinal AA transporters. The measured apparent jejunal digestibility of AA of INT was lower compared to HYD and FAA (P < 0.05). The apparent jejunal digestibility of Cys, Gly, His, Met, and Pro was lower for FAA compared to HYD (P < 0.05). This may be due to the small peptides in HYD, which are absorbed faster than individual AA. The villi area in the ileum of HYD fed pigs was the highest (P < 0.05) among the treatments, which may be associated with the reabsorption of endogenous proteins, which occurs mostly in the ileum. In the duodenum, HYD and FAA had lower expression of PepT1 (P < 0.01) probably due to the rapid transit time of digesta compared to INT fed pigs. Pigs fed HYD expressed more ASCT2 (P = 0.02) and CAT-1 (P = 0.04) in the jejunum compared to the pigs fed the other diets. The expression of these transporters along the intestine depended on the relative abundance of readily absorbable dietary AA. Results showed that dietary AA form can have an influence on the morphology and on the expression of different AA transporters along the different sections of the small intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dietary supplementation of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on growth performance, carcass traits, histomorphology of jejunum, immune function and hepatic and splenic gene expression of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and interleukine‐2 (IL‐2) in broiler chickens. A total of 240 one‐day‐old Ross 308 male broiler chickens were randomly allotted into six dietary treatments with four replicate pens (10 chicks per pen) and fed experimental diet in 3 feeding phases (starter: d 0–10, grower: d 11–24 and finisher: d 25–42). The experimental treatments were (1) corn–soya bean meal‐based basal diet (control), (2–5) basal diet supplemented with 200, 400, 600, 800 mg/kg bLF, respectively, and (6) basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg oxytetracycline (OTC). The average body weight gain (ABWG) of broilers fed 800 mg/kg bLF was 8.48% higher than those fed a corn–soybean meal‐based diet during the starter period (d 0–10) (linear effect, p = 0.002; quadratic effect, p = 0.24). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected (p>0.05) by bLF supplementation. At 42 days of age, the breast meat percentage and carcass yield of broilers fed 800 mg/kg bLF compared with the control group significantly increased by 9.51% and 6.03% respectively (p < 0.05). Compared with the chicks fed the control diet, the chicks fed diets supplemented with bLF had higher villus height, muscle thickness and villus surface area (p > 0.05). Dietary bLF inclusion increased the total immunoglobulin (IgT) titre against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) antigen (linear effect, p = 0.031; quadratic effect, p = 0.035) and improved the phytohaemagglutinin‐P (PHA‐P)‐skin test of broilers. Compared with the control, bLF enhanced the gene expression of IFN‐γ in spleen (p = 0.048, linear effect, p = 0.009; quadratic effect, p = 0.093) and liver (p = 0.012, linear effect, p = 0.008; quadratic effect, p = 0.01) and IL‐2 expression in spleen (p = 0.021, linear effect, p = 0.026; quadratic effect, p = 0.103). The bLF supplementation had no effect on IL‐2 gene expression in liver (p > 0.05, linear effect, p = 0.213; quadratic effect, p = 0.159). In conclusion, we found that supplementation of broiler diets with 800 mg/kg bLF can improve the growth performance, carcass yield, cell‐mediated and antibody‐mediated immune responses and enhance the IL‐2 and IFN‐γ gene expression of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: African catfish is one of the most perspective fish species in modern aquaculture. However, the main cost involved in its production is focused chiefly on the cost of feeds. The main reason for this is the behavior of this species (predatory fish) and the high rate of cannibalism in intensive culture. That is why it is essential to assess functional bioactive additives to be used in commercial feed with a positive effect on the growth and survival rates of this commercially valued fish species. In the present study, African catfish juveniles were fed diets enriched with honeybee pollen (BP) and were tested for growth, survival, intestinal microbiota, and tissue histomorphology. It has been shown that BP addition positively affected all the analyzed parameters. This research study spotlights the benefits of BP as a prebiotic supplement for improving the functionality of feeds prepared for African catfish. This study aimed to determine the dietary effects of honeybee pollen (BP) on growth parameters, intestinal microbiota, hepatic histoarchitecture, and intestinal histomorphometry of African catfish Clarias gariepinus juveniles. The feeding experiment was carried out in a recirculating aquaculture system under controlled conditions for 21 days to achieve more than a 10-fold increase in weight in fish from the control group. Fish were fed well-balanced commercial feed without any supplements and served as a reference group (group C) and other diets enriched with varying BP levels as 1% (BP1), 2% (BP2), and 3% (BP3). Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) effect of the dietary BP not only on the growth parameters (such as final body weight: 5.0 g to 6.6–7.5 g, weight gain: 0.23 g/d to 0.31–0.35 g/d, body length: 84.7 mm to 93.8–95.9 mm, and specific growth rate: 11.7%/d to 13.1–13.7%/d, group C vs. experimental groups, respectively) but also on the development of beneficially important gut microbiota, such as lactic acid-producing bacteria. In BP-enriched groups, an average of 45% higher body weight gain was observed compared to those reared in the control group. The histological analysis showed that dietary BP may have a positive effect on the development of the intestinal tract and may enhance the absorption of nutrients with the potential ability to maintain a normal hepatic histoarchitecture of the treated African catfish. The results obtained suggest the optimum level of BP additive to feed for African catfish should be 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of current experiment was to evaluate the effect of stored wheat based diet on intestinal morphology, digesta viscosity digesta viscosity and blood metabolites of the broiler chicken birds. For this purpose, 560-day old male broiler chicks were used with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate. Corn-soybean based diet was considered as control diet and the other six dietary treatments were prepared by replacing corn of the corn soybean diet with 50% and 100% replacement of fresh, 1.5 year stored and 2.5 year stored wheat. Results of intestinal morphology explored that villus height and villus surface area were higher (P<0.05) in broilers reared on corn soybean based diet and stored wheat diet as compared to the fresh wheat based diets. Results of plasma metabolites represented that serum cholesterol and urea nitrogen was high in diets contained new wheat as comparison to the other experimental treatments (P>0.05). However, blood glucose was high in birds fed stored wheat based diets and corn soy based diet (P<0.05). Replacement of corn with fresh wheat 50% and 100% in the diet of broiler significantly enhanced digesta viscosity (P<0.05). Based on results, it is concluded that stored wheat successfully replace corn and new wheat in the diet of broilers and have positive impact on digesta viscosity, intestinal morphology and blood metabolites. Therefore, it is recommended that corn of corn soybean diet should be replaced with stored wheat when stored wheat is available at lower price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the dietary supplementation of Phyllanthus niruri L. powder (meniran powder, MeP) on the productivity, haematology profiles, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 200 female, one-day-old chickens were allocated to five treatments randomly, with four replications (10 birds per replicate): control, without antibiotic and MeP; T2, Zn-bacitracin 0.05%; T3, MeP 0.02%; T4, MeP 0.03%; and T5, MeP 0.05%. A completely randomized design was employed. The results showed that MeP supplementation at 0.02%, 0.03%, and 0.05% did not affect the body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, haemoglobin, packed cell volume; and lymphocyte, red blood cell, heterophil, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts, but at 0.03% and 0.05%, appeared to reduce white blood cells (WBCs) compared to those in the control and Zn-bacitracin groups. Microscopically, MeP supplementation in the diet increased the height and cellular growth of the mucosal villi of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, but the villi appeared fragile as mucosal epithelial cell necrosis was noted in the taller villi. Thus, it is concluded that MeP did not affect broiler performance and haematology profiles, except that the number of WBCs at 0.03% and 0.05% was less than that in the control and Zn-bacitracin groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The proadaptive effects of glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2) include stimulation of intestinal mucosal growth as well as intestinal blood flow and angiogenesis. We have recently reported that daily subcutaneous injections of glepaglutide, a long‐acting GLP‐2 analog, improved intestinal absorptive function in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). As secondary and exploratory end points, the effects of glepaglutide on intestinal morphology and perfusion are reported. Methods: The following assessments were done in 18 patients with SBS in a randomized, crossover, dose‐finding, phase 2 trial before and after three weeks of treatment with glepaglutide: plasma citrulline and mucosa biopsies to assess changes in (1) intestinal morphology by immunohistochemistry and (2) gene expressions associated with absorption, proliferation, and markers of tight‐junction integrity by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Intestinal perfusion was assessed in stoma nipples by laser speckle contrast imaging and quantitative fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green. Results: In the 1‐ and 10‐mg dose groups, glepaglutide significantly increased plasma citrulline by 15.3 µmol/L (P = 0.001) and 15.6 µmol/L (P = 0.001), respectively. Trends toward an increase in villus height, crypt depth, and epithelium height were seen in the same groups. No significant changes were seen in gene expressions or intestinal perfusion. Conclusion: The increase in plasma citrulline and the morphological improvements may partly account for improvement in the intestinal absorptive function. However, the finding of a stability in perfusion after three weeks of treatment with glepaglutide may have been preceded by a more profound acute‐phase increase in intestinal perfusion at treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of varying levels of sprouted whole grain pearl millet (SPM) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbial count, and blood indices of broiler chickens. A maize–soybean meal basal diet was formulated and fed to broiler chickens as starter (0 to 21 d) and finisher (22 to 42 d) diets. The diets comprised of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of SPM incorporated as whole grain. On 0 d, 180 unsexed broiler chickens were allocated to experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated three times; each replicate had 12 chicks. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric to meet the nutrient requirements of broiler chickens. Diets and water were provided ad libitum for 42 d. Results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) of broiler chickens on SPM compared favorably with those on the control diet. BWG showed trends in increment (P < 0.10) while FCR showed decreased trends (P < 0.10) with partial inclusion of SPM at 42 d and 0 to 42 d. The drumstick weight showed quadratic effect (P = 0.044) while the wing weight showed linear effect (P = 0.047) to treatment diets at 21 d. The liver weights of broiler chickens showed linear response (P = 0.018) at 21 d and (P = 0.004) at 42 d to SPM inclusion in diets. Sprouted whole PM consistently increased low-density lipoprotein concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05). Length and weight of small intestine and ceca showed decreasing trends on SPM levels in the treatment diets. Digesta pH assessment revealed that pH in the crop was lower (P < 0.05) on partial SPM while pH in proventriculus was reduced (P < 0.05) with inclusion of SPM in treatment diets. Lactobacilli count decreased linearly (P = 0.010) with SPM inclusion. This study suggests that SPM could be used as an alternative source of energy in production of broiler chickens. Therefore, partial replacement of maize with SPM in broiler diet had no negative effect on performance, physiological status, and overall health of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of antimicrobial peptides and acidifiers on growth performance, serum immune function and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 2 000 one-day-old healthy AA broilers were randomly divided into four groups, with ten replicates in each group and 50 broilers in each replicate. Broilers in control group were fed with a basal diet, broilers in antibacterial peptide group were fed with basal diet +300 mg/kg antibacterial peptide, broilers in acidifier group were fed with basal diet + 0.1% acidifier, and broilers in antibacterial peptide + acidifier group were fed with basal diet + 300 mg/kg antibacterial peptide + 0.1% acidifier. The experiment lasted for 6 w. The results showed that the body weight and average daily gain of broilers in antimicrobial peptide group, compound acidifier and antimicrobial peptide + compound acidifier group at 21 and 42 d of age were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), and feed to gain ratio was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The average daily gain of broilers in antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in antibacterial peptide and compound acidifier group (P<0.05). At 1 to 42 d of age, the average daily gain of broilers in antimicrobial peptide, compound acidifier and antimicrobial peptide + compound acidifier groups was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05), and the ratio of feed to gain was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The content of serum immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G in antibacterial peptide group, compound acidifier group and antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The villus height of duodenum in antibacterial peptide group, compound acidifier and antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05), the crypt depth was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05), and villus height in antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in antibacterial peptide group and compound acidifier group (P<0.05). The crypt depth was significantly lower than that in antimicrobial peptide group and compound acidifier group (P<0.05), and the pile crypt ratio in compound acidifier group and antimicrobial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The villus height of the ileum in antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05), the crypt depth of the ileum in antibacterial peptide group, compound acidifier group and antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05), and pile crypt ratio in antibacterial peptide + compound acidifier group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that antibacterial peptides and compound acidifiers can significantly improve the growth performance, humoral immunity and intestinal health of broilers, and the effect of antibacterial peptides and compound acidifiers is better than that of antibacterial peptides and compound acidifiers alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the dietary replacement of fish meal with poultry by-product meal (PBM) on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant properties, and intestinal health of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia). A diet containing 20% fish meal (FM) and complex plant ingredients as the main protein resources was set as the FM group (crude protein 32%, crude lipid 6%). Four diets replacing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% fish meal of the FM diet with PBM were set as the PBM25, PBM50, PBM75, and PBM100 groups, respectively. Compared to the FM group, the PBM100 diet significantly decreased growth performance and feed utilization of crayfish, while markedly increasing the activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase. The immune response was depressed in crayfish fed the PBM100 diet as the activities of serum lysozyme and phenoloxidase, gene expression of anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (alf), cyclophilin A (cypa), crustin , and hemocyanin-1 (hep - 1) in hepatopancreas were remarkably decreased. The activities of antioxidases and expression of antioxidant-relevant genes in the hepatopancreas were not influenced by PBM inclusion. Crayfish fed different diets exhibited no obvious symptoms of enteritis, but the PBM100 diet destructed intestinal morphology by significantly decreasing the average length of longitudinal ridges. The α-diversity and overall community structure were not significantly influenced but variations were found in the relative abundance of some genera by PBM inclusion. In summary, CAP could successfully replace 75% dietary FM in a basal diet containing 20% fish meal, while higher CAP level compromised growth performance, immunity, and intestinal histology of crayfish. • PBM replacing 75% FM did not reduce growth performance and intestinal morphology of crayfish. • PBM replacing 75% FM did not depress immunity and hepatopancreas health of crayfish. • PBM inclusion showed no adverse effects on antioxidant properties of crayfish. • Overall intestinal microbial community structure was not altered by PBM inclusion. • PBM changed abundances of some intestinal bacteria genus of crayfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on the intestinal morphology, nitrogen metabolism, faecal ammonia release, antioxidant capacity, and immune organ indices of broilers fed corn-soybean meal diet. A total of 240 healthy 1-day-old Arbour Acres (AA) broilers were randomly divided into four treatment groups receiving XOS supplementation of 0 (Control), 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg to basal diet for 6 weeks. Six replicates with 10 birds each were prepared for each treatment. Results showed that the villus height of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum and the villus height to crypt depth ratio of jejunum were increased significantly in the broilers receiving 150 mg/kg XOS compared with those in the Control (p < 0.05). Nitrogen utilisation from day 19 to 21 was higher in the 150 mg/kg XOS group than in the Control (p < 0.05). Moreover, the addition of 150 mg/kg XOS reduced the nitrogen excretion from day 40 to 42 (p < 0.05), and all XOS treatments increased the nitrogen utilisation from day 40 to 42 (p < 0.05). All dietary XOS supplementations decreased the faecal ammonia concentration on day 21 (p < 0.05), and the addition of 150 and 450 mg/kg XOS induced a lower faecal ammonia concentration compared with that of the Control on day 42 (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of 300 and 450 mg/kg XOS enhanced the activity of serum total antioxidant capacity compared with that in the Control and 150 mg/kg XOS groups at the age of 42 days (p < 0.05). Supplementation with 450 mg/kg XOS significantly increased the index of thymus (p < 0.05) and the content of total protein compared with those of the Control at the age of 21 days (p < 0.05). Therefore, dietary supplementation with 150 mg/kg XOS have a beneficial effect on broilers. Dietary supplementation with XOS increased the villus height of duodenum, jejunum and ileum, and the VH/CD ratio of jejunum. Dietary supplementation with XOS enhanced nitrogen metabolism and reduced faecal ammonia release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of enzymolytic soybean meal (ESBM) on antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and caecal microbiota in Rex rabbits. One-hundred-twenty 40-day-old healthy Rex rabbits were randomly divided into four groups with thirty replicates in each group and one rabbit per replicate. The control group was fed the basal diet and the ESBM treated groups (T1, T2 and T3) were fed 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% ESBM instead of the equivalent amount of soybean meal (SBM) in the basal diet, respectively. The study lasted 61 days, including a pre-feeding period of 5 days and a formal trial period of 56 days. Compared with the control group, the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver, as well as total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased in the T3 group (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde concentrations in the liver and jejunum were significantly decreased in the T1 group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the antioxidant capacity of jejunum, intestinal morphology index and intestinal pH among all groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013 was increased significantly in both T2 and T3 groups (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_unclassified was decreased significantly in all treatment groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the replacement of equivalent amounts of SBM with ESBM in the diet of Rex rabbits can increase the antioxidant capacity of the liver and improve the caecal microbiota, and the optimal replacement level was 1.5%. Enzymolytic soybean meal (ESBM) increased the liver antioxidant capacity of Rex rabbits. ESBM improved the caecal microbiota of Rex rabbits. Effects of ESBM on the intestinal morphology and pH of Rex rabbits were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of alfalfa meal (AM) on the productive performance of Zhuanghe Dagu chickens. A total of 288 35-week-age layers were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments in a 35-day trial. Dietary conditions were based on a basal diet and supplemented with 0, 3, 6, 9% AM (CON, AM3, AM6 and AM9). Results showed that dietary inclusion of AM had positive effects on the egg production rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg mass, yolk colour, albumen height and haugh unit. In addition, the small intestinal morphology such as villus height, crypt width and muscular thickness were improved by including AM in the diet. AM supplementation enriched the microbiota diversity in the caecum. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio has decreased, and the Synergistetes has increased in AM supplemented groups compared with the CON group. Predictive functional analysis revealed that metabolic pathways of carbohydrate, lipid, terpenoids and polyketides, etc. were significantly enriched in the experimental groups. A total of 397 differential metabolites have been identified between AM6 group and CON group. Among them, a total of 176 metabolites were upregulated and 221 metabolites were downregulated. Therefore, dietary inclusion of AM was beneficial to improve the laying performance, egg quality, small intestinal morphology, caecal microbiota diversity and caecal metabolic function in Zhuanghe Dagu chickens, with the optimum dose being 6%. Feeding Dagu chickens with AM containing diet had beneficial effects on the productive performance Dietary inclusion of AM improved intestinal morphology parameters in Dagu chickens The nutritional metabolic function of Dagu chickens was positively affected by including AM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction1 The increase in the cost of the diet, especially the protein part, has caused the desire of producer and researchers to use by-products. The use of animal waste not only reduces the cost of feed but also reduces the entry of contaminants into the environment. Hydrolyzed feathers, meat meal, bone meal, poultry byproduct meal (PBM) and fish oil are some of the by-products used in poultry, dairy cattle and other livestock diet. Also, the use of pelleted feed in broiler chicken is increasing, because it produces less dust, improves digestibility, reduces transportation costs, and improves performance indicators such as feed consumption and decrease feed conversion ratio. Sodium bentonite (SB) is one of the substances that has been used as pellet binder in feed. Several studies have evaluated the effects of the addition of SB and had beneficial results on pelleting physical properties such as pellet durability index (PDI) and pellet hardness. Addition of active SB as a pellet binder in wheat-soybean meal-based diets has increased the relative electrical energy usage (REEU) and decreased the feed conversion ratio. However, studies on the use of different levels of PBM and SB as a pellet binder in broiler chicken diets are very limited, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pellet binder levels of SB in diets containing different amounts of PBM on performance, carcass traits and blood metabolites of Ross 308 broiler chickens in finisher period. Materials and Methods Treatments were assigned in a completely randomized design based on a factorial arrangement of 3 levels of SB conditioning time (0, 1.5 and 3%) × 3 levels of PBM (0, 5 and 10%). Experimental diets were balanced based on Ross 308 recommendations for finisher period (24-42 d) by using UFFDA software. In the present experiment PBM and pellet binder of SB samples were prepared from MegaFaravar Co., Iran. Ingredients of diets were ground through a 2-mm screen size in a hammer mill. All diets mixed in a double-shaft mixer and transferred to super conditioner with 82◦C for 10s, and then pelleted through a 3-mm die. After pelleting of feed produced, 3 replications of each treatment with 3-minute intervals were sampled from the cooler part of the pellet machine. The PDI, hardness test and REEU related to experimental diets was measured. Also, a total of 360 24-day-old male chicks were individually weighted and allocated to 9 treatments of 4 replicates (10 birds in each replication). Feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded. On 42 day, 2 birds per pen were randomly euthanized by cervical dislocation. Carcass characteristics and relative weight of small intestinal segments were measured. Total protein, glucose, albumin, lipoproteins (HDL, LDL) were determined by using autoanalyzer device and commercial kits. Results and Discussion Addition of 1.5% SB improved and the use of PBM due to its high fat content reduced the quality characteristics of the pellet that due to their strong colloidal properties and giving rise to a thixotropic gelatinous substance. Likewise, different levels of SB as a pellet binder and PBM did not change the ADG and FCR (P <0.05). However, the use of different levels of PBM with and without SB reduced FI (P<0.05). Also, the relative weight of carcass, breast and thigh was not affected by experimental treatments (P <0.05). Abdominal fat increased significantly in the groups receiving PBM (P <0.05). Amino acid imbalances in PBM probably increase deamination and conversion of amino acids to fat. Significant reduction in duodenum and ileum length was observed in the group containing 3% SB and 10% PBM (P <0.05). Also, the level of 10% PBM with and without SB increased the concentration of blood lipids. Blood lipids concentration have a positive correlation with weight and feed as an environmental factor affects its amount. Conclusion In general, the results of this experiment showed that application of PBM as a source of protein with adequate nutritional value up to 5% without negative effects on performance for use in pelleted diet of broilers at high levels when soybean meal is expensive and or not available, it is possible and useable. Also, commercial sodium bentonite can be used as a pellet binder to increase the quality of pellets up to 1.5%. The need for further studies on the simultaneous use of sodium bentonite as a pellet binder and PBM are recommended to ensure the results obtained in other broiler chicken breeding periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately $20 billion of apple sales are generated annually in the United States. With an estimated 5 million tons produced yearly in the U.S. within the last decade, apple consumption is considered ubiquitous. Apples are comprised of bioactive constituents such as phytochemicals and prebiotics that may potentiate intestinal health and the gut microbiome. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Empire apple juice, pomace, and pulp soluble extracts on intestinal functionality, morphology, and the microbiome in vivo (Gallus gallus). There were five treatment groups: non-injected (NI); 18 MΩ H2O (H2O); 6% apple juice (AJ); 6% apple pomace (APo); 6% apple pulp (APu). The eggs were treated by intra-amniotic administration of the samples on day 17 of incubation. After hatching, the blood, tissue, and cecum samples were collected for further analyses—including duodenal histomorphology, hepatic and duodenal mRNA expression, and cecal bacterial populations. Crypt depth was significantly (p < 0.5) shortest in AJ when compared to APo and APu. APo and APu soluble extracts significantly improved villi surface area compared to NI and H2O control groups. The highest count of Paneth cells per crypt was observed in APo as compared to all groups. In addition, the expression of brush border membrane micronutrient metabolism and functional proteins varied between treatments. Lastly, Lactobacillus cecal microbial populations increased significantly in the AJ group, while AJ, APu, and APu increased the abundance of Clostridium (p < 0.5). Ultimately, these results indicate the potential of Empire apple pomace to improve host intestinal health and the gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics have been used to maintain the overall health of poultry by increasing production efficiency, promoting growth, and improving intestinal function for more than 50 years. However, they have a number of side effects, such as antibiotic resistance, gut dysbiosis, destruction of beneficial bacteria, and the potential to spread diseases to humans. In order to address the aforementioned issues, a lot of effort is put into the development of antibiotic alternatives. One of them is the use of probiotics that can be added to the feed in order to increase poultry performance and avoid the aforementioned problems. Probiotics are live microorganisms consumed as feed additives or supplements. They function in the poultry gastrointestinal tract to benefit the host. Probiotics improve growth performance, bone health, meat and eggshell quality. The addition of probiotics to the diet also positively affects the immune response, intestinal microflora, and disease resistance. Careful selection of probiotic strains is of utmost importance. This review focuses on the significance of probiotics as a potential antibiotic-free alternative and the way in which they can be used as supplements in poultry feed for boosting production and safeguarding health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of encapsulated essential oils (EOs) addition on nutrient digestion, serum biochemical parameters, peripheral blood alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), and acid phosphatase (ACP-ase) positive lymphocyte ratios and intestinal morphology in laying hens. Methods A total of 320 laying hens of 48-wk-old were randomly allotted into 4 treatment groups with 10 replicates of 8 birds in each replicate. The birds were fed a basal diet (control) or the diet added with mixture of EOs (which consist of eugenol, nerolidol, piperine, thymol, linalool, and geraniol) at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for period of 84 days. Results The addition of EOs at 100 or 200 mg/kg increased the dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestion as compared to control. The addition of all doses of EOs did not affect serum gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and P but increased serum asparate aminotransferase (AST) concentration. The addition of 200 mg/kg EOs increased serum creatinine, while 100 mg/kg decreased Ca concentration. The addition of 100 and 200 mg/kg EOs generally improved ANAE and ACP-ase positive peripheral blood lymphocyte ratios and intestinal morphology. Conclusion It can be concluded that, the addition of 100 or 200 mg/kg encapsulated EOs generally increased apparent nutrient digestion and serum AST concentration, improved ANAE and ACP-ase positive peripheral blood lymphocytes and intestinal morphology in laying hens.

The addition of dietary proteases (PRO) to weaner diets hydrolyzes soybean-based anti-nutritive factors and improves weaned pig’s dietary digestibility and growth performance. Therefore, this study explores the effects of PRO in a lower crude protein (CP) level diet than that in a commercial diet on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal morphology of weaned pigs. A total of 90 weaned pigs were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments with 6 pigs per pen and 5 replicated pens per treatment using a randomized complete block design (block = body weight [BW]): 1) a commercial weaner diet as a positive control (PC; phase1 CP = 23.71%; phase2 CP: 22.36%), 2) lower CP diet than PC as a negative control (NC; 0.61% less CP than PC), and 3) an NC diet with 0.02% PRO. Pigs fed PC and PRO had higher (p < 0.05) final BW, average daily gain, and/or gain to feed ratio for the first three weeks and the overall experimental period than NC. The PC and PRO groups had greater (p < 0.05) apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, CP, and energy than the NC group. Moreover, pigs fed PC and PRO increased (p < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of CP compared with those fed NC. In addition, the PRO group had a higher number of goblet cells than the PC and NC groups. However, pig fed PC and PRO increased (p < 0.05) villus height and height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum compared with those fed NC. In conclusion, PRO supplementation in a commercial weaner diet with low CP levels improves growth rate and nutrient digestibility by modulating the intestinal morphology of weaned pigs.

Developing chick embryos that are subjected to increased incubation temperature are more stressor-resilient later in life, but the underlying process is poorly understood. The potential mechanism may involve changes in small intestine function. In this study, we determined behavioral, morphological, and molecular effects of increased embryonic incubation temperatures and post-hatch heat challenge in order to understand how embryonic heat conditioning (EHC) affects gut function. At 4 days post-hatch, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum samples were collected at 0, 2, and 12 h relative to the start of heat challenge. In EHC chicks, we found that markers of heat and oxidative stress were generally lower while those of nutrient transport and antioxidants were higher. Temporally, gene expression changes in response to the heat challenge were similar in control and EHC chicks for markers of heat and oxidative stress. Crypt depth was greater in control than EHC chicks at 2 h post-challenge, and the villus height to crypt depth ratio increased from 2 to 12 h in both control and EHC chicks. Collectively, these results suggest that EHC chicks might be more energetically efficient at coping with thermal challenge, preferentially allocating nutrients to other tissues while protecting the mucosal layer from oxidative damage. These results provide targets for future studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying effects of embryonic heat exposure on intestinal function and stressor resiliency later in life. [Display omitted] • Increased incubation temperature in chicks enhances stress resilience later in life. • Embryonic heat conditioning reduces stress markers, increases nutrient transporters. • Control and embryonic heat conditioned chicks have different intestinal morphology. • Embryonic heat conditioning does not increase stress-related behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of dietary Mannan-Oligosaccharides (MOS) on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, immune function, and intestinal morphology in fattening Tan sheep. Twenty-eight four-month-old male Tan sheep were assigned to four groups and received a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 1%, 2%, or 3% MOS for 56 days following a 14-day adaptation period.Results indicated that MOS supplementation significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) in a dose-dependent manner (P ≤ 0.05). Serum biochemical analyses showed a linear and quadratic reduction in triglyceride (TG) levels, and a linear and quadratic increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (P ≤ 0.05). Total cholesterol (TC) levels decreased linearly, whereas urea nitrogen (UN) levels increased linearly with higher MOS levels (P ≤ 0.05). Mannan-Oligosaccharides also enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity, with both parameters increasing linearly (P ≤ 0.05). Immune function was significantly improved, demonstrated by elevated levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, 2% and 3% MOS groups showed increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels (P ≤ 0.05). Linear increases were noted in serum IgG, IgA, IgM, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, while IL-10 and IFN-γ levels exhibited both linear and quadratic increases (P ≤ 0.05).Intestinal morphology analysis revealed significant improvements in jejunal villus height, crypt depth reduction, and the villus-to-crypt ratio, with these parameters showing both linear and quadratic changes in response to increasing MOS levels (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, 2% MOS supplementation is recommended for enhanced growth performance, metabolic health, immune function, and intestinal integrity in fattening Tan sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of Bacillus subtilis JATP3 to stimulate immune response and improve intestinal health in piglets during the critical weaning period. Twelve 28-day-old weaned piglets were randomly divided into two groups. One group was fed a basal diet, while the other group was fed a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis JATP3 (1 × 109 CFU/mL; 10 mL) for 28 days. The results revealed a significant increase in the intestinal villus gland ratio of weaned piglets following the inclusion of B. subtilis JATP3 (P < 0.05). Inclusion of a probiotic supplement improve the intestinal flora of jejunum and ileum of weaned piglets. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated a notable rise in citalopram levels in the jejunum and ileum, along with elevated levels of isobutyric acid and isocitric acid in the ileum. The results of correlation analysis show that indicated a positive correlation between citalopram and microbial changes. Furthermore, the probiotic-treated group exhibited a significant upregulation in the relative expression of Claudin, Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO-1), and Interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the jejunum and ileum, while displaying a noteworthy reduction in the relative expression of Interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Overall, these findings suggest that B. subtilis JATP3 can safeguard intestinal health by modulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites, wherein citalopram might be a key component contributing to the therapeutic effects of B. subtilis JATP3. • Bacillus subtilis JATP3 improved the intestinal mucosal microbial community. • Bacillus subtilis JATP3 increased the content of citalopram in the intestine. • Bacillus subtilis JATP3 improved intestinal morphology and intestinal immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the impact of dietary protease supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal function of weaned piglets when fed a diet comprising high levels of low digestible protein sources, in comparison with a standard commercially representative piglet diet. A total of 180 weaned piglets, 21 d old, of Duroc × Large White × Landrace crossbreeds, with an initial body weight (BW) of 6.27 ± 0.45 kg, were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: 1) a standard commercial positive control (PC) diet comprising 22.2% soy protein, 5% whey protein, and 3% fish meal, 2) a negative control (NC) diet comprising 30.1% soy protein without whey protein and fish meal, and 3) a NC diet supplemented with 0.02% protease (NC + PROT). The diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric and were pelleted at conditions of 0.4 MPa and 75°C. The experimental design employed a completely randomized design with 6 replicate pens per treatment, each pen containing 10 piglets. Statistical analysis was conducted using oneway ANOVA, with differences between means assessed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P < 0.05). In terms of piglet performance, feeding the NC diet, containing high levels of low digestible protein sources, resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in final BW, average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) by 3.1%, 8.2%, and 5.2%, respectively, compared with piglets fed the PC diet. Conversely, the NC diet significantly increased (P < 0.05) the feed-to-gain ratio and incidence of diarrhea by 3.4% and 88.3%, respectively, relative to PC. However, the supplementation of protease in the NC + PROT diet restored final BW, feed-to-gain ratio, and incidence of diarrhea to the same level as PC, while ADG and ADFI were increased (P < 0.05) by 4.6% and 4.3%, respectively. Regarding intestinal function, relative to PC, piglets fed the NC diet exhibited significantly less (P < 0.05) duodenal villus height, crude protein digestibility, and gene expressions of duodenal peptide transporter PepT1 and jejunal amino acid transporter b0,+AT, while blood urea nitrogen and diamine oxidase concentrations were greater (P < 0.05). However, the addition of protease in the NC diet reinstated measures of intestinal function, as NC + PROT-fed piglets showed similar duodenal villus height, crude protein digestibility, gene expressions of duodenal peptide transporter PepT1 and jejunal amino acid transporter b0,+AT, as well as blood urea nitrogen and diamine oxidase concentrations to PC. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of protease in weaned piglets fed higher levels of lower digestible protein sources mitigated losses in growth performance and intestinal functionality by enhancing intestinal development, protein digestibility, nutrient transport efficiency, and overall health status of piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periplaneta americana residue is a byproduct of using Periplaneta americana in pharmaceutical research and development for extracting active ingredients. Three hundred Three-yellow chickens were selected for the experiment and randomly divided into 6 groups (5 replications per group, 10 chickens per replicate): the control group (group A) was fed a basal ration, and the experimental groups (groups B, C, D, E, and F) were fed experimental diets in which P. americana residue replaced puffed soybean meal at proportions of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%, respectively, for a period of 42 d. The aim was to assess the impact of different levels of P. americana residue on the growth, survival, intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal flora, and intestinal transcriptional responses of Three-yellow chickens. The results indicated that the increase in P. americana residue levels had a linear and quadratic impact on the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), respectively. The ADG was notably greater in the 40% group than in the 100% group, while the FCR was significantly lower in the 20% and 40% groups than in the 100% group (P < 0.05). Protease, lipase, and amylase activities exhibited a quadratic increase with increasing concentrations of P. americana residue (P < 0.05). Protease and lipase activities were notably greater in the 20% and 40% groups than in the 0% group (control group), amylase activity was significantly greater in the 40% group than in the 0% group (control group) (P < 0.05). Duodenal crypt depth (CD) decreased quadratically with increasing P. americana residue (P < 0.05). The duodenal villus height/crypt depth ratio (V/C) was significantly lower in the 100% group than in the 60% group (P < 0.05). The intestinal villus height (VH) increased quadratically with increasing levels of P. americana residue. The VH in the 60% group was significantly greater than that in the 0% (control group), 20, 80, and 100% groups (P < 0.05). The Chao and Ace indices demonstrated linear and quadratic increases with increasing levels of P. americana residue, while the Pd index showed a quadratic increase with increasing levels of P. americana residue (P < 0.05). The relative abundance profile of Lactobacillus exhibited a linear and quadratic decrease with increasing levels of P. americana residue, with the 100% group showing a significantly lower abundance than the 0% (control group) and 40% groups (P < 0.05). The transcriptome results showed that P. americana residue could enhance the digestive system by promoting vitamin, fat, carbohydrate digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism, etc. In conclusion, P. americana residue can replace puffed soybean meal without negatively affecting the growth performance of three-yellow chickens. The low and medium groups had positive effects on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, intestinal flora, and substance digestion and absorption of three-yellow chickens. The recommended replacement of P. americana residue for puffed soybean meal in the diets of three-yellow chickens ranged from 20% to 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of a sudden change in salinity for 48 h on the digestive enzyme activity of juvenile yellowfin tuna. The treatment included a control salinity of 32‰ in natural seawater and an experimental salinity of 29‰. Acute stress experiments were carried out on 72 juvenile yellowfin tuna (646.52 ± 66.32 g) for 48 h to determine changes in digestive enzyme activity in different intestinal sections over time (0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h). The activities of pepsin, trypsin, α-amylase, lipase, and chymotrypsin in the digestive organs (stomach, foregut, and pyloric ceca) of juvenile yellowfin tuna were measured. Pepsin and pancreatic protease in the experimental group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). α-amylase showed a fluctuating trend of decreasing and then increasing, and its activity trend was pyloric ceca > foregut > stomach. The lipase activity of gastric tissues decreased at the beginning and then increased, reaching a minimum at 24 h (2.74 ± 1.99 U·g protein−1). The change of lipase in the pyloric ceca and foregut was increasing and then decreasing. The lipase activity trend was pyloric ceca > foregut > stomach. The chymotrypsin showed a decreasing and increasing trend and then stabilized at 48 h with a pattern of pyloric ceca > foregut > stomach. Similarly, the gut villi morphology was not significantly altered in the acutely salinity-stressed compared to the non-salinity-stressed. This study suggests that salinity may change the digestive function of juvenile yellowfin tuna, thereby affecting fish feeding, growth, and development. On the contrary, yellowfin tuna is highly adapted to 29‰ salinity. However, excessive stress may negatively affect digestive enzyme activity and reduce fish digestibility. This study may provide a scientific basis for a coastal aquaculture water environment for yellowfin tuna farming, which may guide the development and cultivation of aquaculture.

Stocking density is a key factor affecting the health of aquatic organisms in industrial aquaponics. In this study, Micropterus salmoides were assigned to one of two density groups (160 and 120 fish/m3) for 40 days. The growth performance, intestinal morphology, enzyme activity, and microbial communities were compared between the two density groups. The findings revealed that the higher stocking density condition exhibited an increased weight gain rate and specific growth rate during the developmental phase of the juvenile M. salmoides. Moreover, remarkable increases in villi height, villi width, and muscular layer thickness were observed. Additionally, this elevated stocking density condition also enhanced the activity of intestinal antioxidant enzymes, consequently improving the structural integrity of the intestine and augmenting the digestive and absorptive capacities of the juvenile M. salmoides. With regard to the intestinal microbial community, the dominant phyla detected were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. However, under the higher stocking density condition, there was a significant upsurge in the abundance of Mycoplasma. Consequently, it is advised to mitigate the abundance of such pathogenic microorganisms through the regulation of the water environment during the aquacultural process. Drawing from recent investigations on the impact of various factors on the intestinal microbiota of M. salmoides, it can be deduced that the composition of the intestinal microbiota is closely intertwined with factors including aquaculture practices, feed composition, water environment, and developmental stage. In summary, the aforementioned research findings possess noteworthy implications for the control of stocking density in the cultivation of juvenile M. salmoides.

Yeast cell wall products are used as feed supplements for increasing animal health and performance. A trial was set up to test effects of natural carbohydrate fraction from yeast cell wall (NCF) on gut parameters that can be correlated with gut health. Trial design included four treatments (control group and three groups with different levels of NCF in feed: 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.08%) and eight replications per treatment. Each replication was one pen with 38 broiler chicks. Chicks were sexed in incubation station and only males were used in the trial. On days 7 and 28 of the trial, after body weight had been measured, chicks with weight approximate to that of their treatment average were selected for intestinal sampling. Ten chicks per treatment were slaughtered. Central part of jejunum was fixed, sectioned and stained with double staining (Alcian Blue and Periodic Acid-Schiff). At least 15 measurements (25 on average) were made per bird for villus height and width, crypt depth and Tunica muscularis thickness. Statistical analysis was performed using factorial ANOVA test with feed and age as factors, and with Duncans’ test. Age significantly affected jejunal morphometry, while effects of NCF were less obvious. Villus height, crypt depth and Tunica muscularis thickness doubled from 7th to 28th day, leaving villus to crypt ratio unchanged. Villus width also increased, but to a lesser extent, making villi of older chicks more elongated. Group receiving 0.02% NCF in feed had smaller crypt depth, and larger villus to crypt ratio, while group receiving 0.08% NCF had smaller villus area (villus height × villus width) compared to the control group.

Medicinal plants are used in poultry feed due to their beneficial effects on the intestinal microflora, digestibility of nutrients, intestinal morphology, aspects that are found in the quality of meat and eggs. Currently, due to its characteristics, coriander is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and medical industry, in the cosmetics and perfume industry, but also in the zootechnical field, as an alternative to antibiotics, in raising young animals and birds. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the additional effects of the diet of chickens with coriander powder on intestinal and liver morphology. The study was performed on a number of 24 broilers (ROS 308 hybrids), male, divided into two groups, each group with two replications, 6 individuals / group: Control group (CG) fed only by the basic diet and the experimental group (CoG) in which the basic diet was supplemented with 1% coriander powder. The duration of the experiment was 42 days. Supplementation of the basic diet of chickens with 1% coriander powder led to an increase in the analyzed histomorphometric parameters, the differences compared to the control group (CG) being significant (p0.05) for the width of the villi. In addition, at the hepatic level, dietary supplementation with coriander powder led to vascular hypertrophy, the presence of perivascular leukocyte infiltrates and the manifestation of cytoplasmic vacuolation of hepatocytes in the perilobular territories. Histomorphometric analysis of the data obtained in this study and histological changes in the liver provide new information on the use of coriander seed powder in broiler feed, as a potential promoter of their growth.