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To evaluate the protective effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on intestinal morphology, anti-oxidant status, inflammatory response and barrier integrity in male broilers under heat stress. A total of 180 21-d-old male Arbour Acres broilers with similar body weight were used for this 21-d experiment. Broilers were randomly allocated to three groups: CON group, basal diet and raised under 24 °C; HS group, basal diet and raised under heat stress condition (34 °C from 10:00 to 18:00 and 24 °C for the rest time); HS-SB group, basal diet with 1200 mg/kg SB and raised under heat stress condition. Compared to the HS group, SB supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG), villus height: crypt depth ratio (VH: CD), VH, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) level, decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR), CD, reactive oxygen species (ROS), IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level, up-regulated the mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, haem oxygenase 1, GSH 1 (GPX1), SOD and CAT, down-regulated the mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear transcription factors, IL-1β, and TNF-α in jejunum of heat-stressed broilers. Furthermore, SB supplementation up-regulated the mRNA expression of occluding, claudin-1 and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) in jejunum of heat-stressed broilers, accompanied with decreasing serum endotoxin and D-lactic acid concentration, and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. There results suggested that SB supplementation could alleviate heat stress-induced jejunal tight junction structure dysfunction by up-regulated the expression of occluding, claudin-1 and ZO-1, presumably through alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory response.HIGHLIGHTS Sodium butyrate alleviated heat stress-induced jejunal morphology damage. Sodium butyrate alleviated heat stress-induced jejunal oxidative damage. Sodium butyrate alleviated heat stress-induced jejunal inflammatory response. Sodium butyrate alleviated heat stress-induced tight junction structure dysfunction.

The aim of this study was to confirm the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of post-mortem breast muscle glycolysis in the broiler, we evaluated the effects of intraperitoneal injection of the specific AMPK activator (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, AICAR) and inhibitor (6-[4-(2-piperidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-3-pyridin-4-yl-pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidine, Compound C) on AMPK phosphorylation (p-AMPK) level, meat quality, glycolytic metabolites and glycolytic enzymes activities in post-mortem breast muscle of broilers. Compared to the CON group, intraperitoneal injection of AIRCR increased p-AMPK level, glycolytic enzyme activities and lactate content in post-mortem breast muscle, increased lightness (L*) and drip loss, but decreased pH45min and pH24h. However, intraperitoneal injection of Compound C, decreased p-AMPK level, glycolytic enzyme activities, glucose-6-phosphate and lactate content in post-mortem breast muscle, and increased pH24h. Based on these results, we conclude that AMPK played a vital role in regulating post-mortem glycolysis in the breast muscle of broilers. HIGHLIGHTS Injection of AIRCR promoting muscle glycolysis. Injection of Compound C alleviating muscle glycolysis. AMPK played a vital role in regulating post-mortem muscle glycolysis.

Simple Summary: The aim of this study was to elucidate the age-related changes in hepatic lipid metabolism and abdominal adipose deposition in yellow-feathered broilers. Parameters such as body and abdominal adipose weight and lipid-metabolism-related gene expression in the liver and abdominal adipose tissue were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the body weight and absolute and relative weights of the liver increased with age-related changes. The triacylglycerol content peaked on day 14, while the total cholesterol content peaked on day 56. The adipocyte diameter and area peaked on day 56, the total DNA content peaked on day 7, the mRNA expression of hepatic ChREBP, SREBP-1c, ACC, FAS, SCD1, CPT1, ApoB, and FABP1 peaked on day 7, PPARα on day 56, LPL on day 1, and MTTP on day 35. In abdominal adipose tissue, the mRNA expression of PPARα, CPT1, and LPL peaked on day 56, PPARγ on day 14, C/EBPα on day 42, and C/EBPβ on day 7. In addition, the age-related changes in the expression of hepatic lipogenesis- and lipolysis-related genes and abdominal adipose-deposition-related genes occurred during days 1 to 14 and during days 1 to 21, respectively. These results support the development of practical strategies to regulate hepatic lipid metabolism and reduce abdominal adipose deposition in yellow-feathered broilers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the age-related changes in hepatic lipid metabolism, adipocyte hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and lipid metabolism in the abdominal adipose tissue of yellow-feathered broilers. Blood, liver, and abdominal adipose samples were collected on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56. Body, liver, and abdominal weight increased (p < 0.05) with age-related changes. The triacylglycerol content peaked on day 14, and total cholesterol content peaked on day 56. The adipocyte diameter and area peaked on day 56, and total DNA content peaked on day 7. The age-related changes in hepatic lipogenesis-related gene (ChREBP, SREBP-1c, ACC, FAS, SCD1) expression mainly occurred during days 1 to 21, hepatic lipolysis-related gene (CPT1, LPL, ApoB) expression mainly occurred during days 1 to 14, and abdominal adipose-deposition-related gene (PPARα, CPT1, LPL, PPARγ, C/EBPβ) expression occurred during days 1 to 14. These results demonstrated a dynamic pattern of hepatic lipid metabolism and abdominal adipose deposition in yellow-feathered broilers, which provides practical strategies to regulate hepatic lipid metabolism and reduce abdominal adipose deposition in yellow-feathered broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) supplementation on meat quality, chemical composition and oxidative stability in frizzled chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old female frizzled chickens with an average body weight of 34.38 ± 1.23 g were randomly allocated to four groups with six replications (10 chickens/replication) in this 84-day experiment. The chickens in the control group (CON) fed the basal diet and the other three experimental diets were based on the basal diet with 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg COS supplementation, respectively. The results indicated that dietary COS increased growth performance, eviscerated and breast muscle yield while decreased abdominal fat yield, accompanied with increasing pH45min, pH24h, Lightness, drip loss and cooking loss in breast and thigh muscle. The scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt, the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in breast and thigh muscle were improved by COS while malondialdehyde content was decreased. COS up-regulated the gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in breast and thigh muscle. In conclusion, dietary COS supplementation improved meat quality by improving pH, colour, water holding capacity and anti-oxidant capacity, accompanied with decreased lipid metabolism in frizzled chickens. Dietary 600 mg/kg COS was recommended in frizzled chickens' diet to improve meat quality. COS improves growth performance of frizzled chickens. COS improves meat quality of frizzled chickens. COS enhances anti-oxidant capacity of frizzled chickens' meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Enterococcus faecium DSM 7,134 supplementation on the performance of sows and their litters. A total of 15 primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly divided into three treatments with five replicates. Dietary treatments were: CON, basal diet; E1, CON + 0.025% E. faecium; E2, CON + 0.05% E. faecium. No significant differences were observed on body weight and feed intake of lactating sows with E. faecium supplementation, but linearly increased the sow apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and gross energy (GE; p <.05), and decreased piglets pre‐weaning mortality (p <.05). Piglets from E. faecium‐supplemented sows linearly increased weaning weight, average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed ratio (p <.05), as well as linearly decreased diarrhoea score (p <.05) in the first weaning week. Piglets from E. faecium‐supplemented sows linearly increased faecal Lactobacillus and Enterococci counts (p <.05), while linearly decreased faecal Escherichia coli counts (p <.05) after weaning. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of E. faecium improved the ATTD of DM, N and GE in lactating sows, as well as improved body weight, ADG and shifted faecal microbiota in their litters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ban on the use of antibiotic in feed encouraged nutritionists to using alternatives to maintain growth performance and intestinal function of broilers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Yupingfeng polysaccharides (YP) supplementation on growth performance and expression of SGLT1, GLUT2 and GLUT5 in Qingyuan partridge chicken. Experiment 1: a total of 540 chickens were randomly allocated to five groups with six replication. Dietary treatments were: (1) CON (control group), basal diet; (2) T1, CON + 0.5 g kg−1 YP; (3) T2, CON + 1 g kg−1 YP; (4) T3, CON + 2 g kg−1YP; (5) T4, CON + 4 g kg−1YP. Experiment 2, a total of 162 were randomly allocated to three groups with three replication. Dietary treatments were: (1) CON, basal diet; (2) T1, CON + 0.5 g kg−1YP; (3) T2, CON + 1 g kg−1YP. From days 1 to 14 and overall, chicken fed T1 diet had higher ADG. On day 42, there was increased villus height of jejunum in T1 group. On days 14 and 28, there was decreased villus height of duodenum and jejunum in T2 group. In duodenum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 21, 35 and 42), GLUT2 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21 and 28) was increased with YP supplementation. In jejunum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35), GLUT2 (days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) was increased with YP supplementation. In ileum, the expression of SGLT1 (days 7, 21, 35 and 42), GLUT2 (days 7, 14, 21 and 42) and GLUT5 (days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42) was increased with YP supplementation. Dietary YP supplementation improves growth performance and expression of SGLT1, GLUT2 and GLUT5 in intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Probiotics have been used to address antibiotic alternatives and environmental concerns. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis complex supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microflora and faecal noxious gas emissions in growing‐finishing pigs. RESULTS: Dietary B. licheniformis and B. subtilis complex (B. licheniformis and B. subtilis in a 1:1 ratio) supplementation showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) in digestibility of dry matter at weeks 6, 12 and 15, a linear increase (P < 0.05) in digestibility of nitrogen at week 12, a linear increase (P < 0.05) in faecal Lactobacillus counts at weeks 6 and 12, a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in ammonia (NH3) emission at weeks 6 and 12 and a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in total mercaptan emission at weeks 3, 9 and 15. CONCLUSION: Dietary B. licheniformis and B. subtilis complex supplementation increased digestibility and faecal Lactobacillus counts and decreased faecal NH3 and total mercaptan emissions in growing‐finishing pigs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted this study to compare the effects of lactic acid bacteria complex (L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. lactis, L. plantarum, S. thermophilus, and B. longum) and Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in weanling pigs. A total of 120 weanling pigs (24-day-old) were used in a 5-week feeding trial. Pigs were allotted into three dietary treatments: CON, basal diet; LA, CON + 0.1% lactic acid bacteria complex; EF, and CON + 0.1% E. faecium DSM 7134. From days 0 to 14, days 15 to 35, and the overall period, average daily gain was higher (P < .05) in EF than that in CON. Higher gain:feed ratio was also observed in EF compared with CON during the overall period. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy was greater (P < .05) in LA and EF compared with CON on days 14 and 35. Faecal Lactobacillus counts were increased (P < .05) and faecal pH was decreased in LA and EF compared with CON on days 14 and 35. Results of the current study indicated that E.faecium DSM 7134 has better effects on growth performance than lactic acid bacteria complex in weanling pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Antibiotics used as growth promoters in livestock have been banned in the European Union since 2006. Antibiotics alternatives have focused on probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. The concentration of L. acidophilus is considered crucial for obtaining the desired effects. However, limited studies have been conducted to test the dose-dependent effects of L. acidophilus. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the dose-dependent effects of L. acidophilus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial flora and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs. RESULTS Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation increased ( P < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, and Lactobacillus counts compared to the basal diet treatment, and a linear effect ( P < 0.05) was observed on those criteria. Escherichia coli counts and NH3 emission were decreased ( P < 0.05) by L. acidophilus supplementation, and a linear effect ( P < 0.05) was observed on E. coli counts. CONCLUSION These results suggest that L. acidophilus could be used as an antibiotic alternative by improving growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut balance (i.e. increased Lactobacillus counts and decreased E. coli counts), and decreasing NH3 emission, of weaning pigs. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Probiotics can serve as alternatives to antibiotics to increase the performance of weaning pigs, and the intake of probiotics is affected by dietary nutrient density. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a probiotic complex in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs. RESULTS From day 22 to day 42, both high-nutrient-density and probiotic complex supplementation diets increased ( P < 0.05) the average daily gain. On day 42, the apparent total tract digestibility ( ATTD) of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy ( GE), blood urea nitrogen concentration and NH3 and H2S emissions were increased ( P < 0.05) in pigs fed high-nutrient-density diets. Pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets had higher ( P < 0.05) ATTD of GE than pigs fed non-supplemented diets. Fecal Lactobacillus counts were increased whereas Escherichia coli counts and NH3 and H2S emissions were decreased ( P < 0.05) in pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets. Interactive effects on average daily feed intake ( ADFI) were observed from day 22 to day 42 and overall, where probiotic complex improved ADFI more dramatically in low-nutrient-density diets. CONCLUSION The beneficial effects of probiotic complex ( Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium butyricum) supplementation on ADFI is more dramatic with low-nutrient-density diets. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Oxidative stress adversely affects animal health and performance. Feed additives with antioxidant abilities supplementation can alleviate oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with COS alleviates the damage caused by oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The results shown that COS exhibited better radical scavenging capacity of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O2−), H2O2, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) than butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA), increasing activity of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH, and T-AOC, as well as decreasing MDA level in serum, liver, spleen, and kidney. Our results indicated that COS can protect Sprague Dawley rats from H2O2 challenge by reducing lipid peroxidation and restoring antioxidant capacity. Oxidative stress is induced by excessive oxidative radicals, which directly react with biomolecules, and damage lipids, proteins and DNA, leading to cell or organ injury. Supplementation of antioxidants to animals can be an effective way to modulate the antioxidant system. Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) are the degraded products of chitosan or chitin, which has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing competency. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with COS alleviates the damage caused by oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The rats were randomly divided into three groups: CON, control group, in which rats were fed a basal diet with normal drinking water; AS, H2O2 group, in which rats were fed the basal diet and 0.1% H2O2 in the drinking water; ASC, AS + COS group, in which rats were fed the basal diet with 200 mg/kg COS, and with 0.1% H2O2 in the drinking water. In vitro, COS exhibited better radical scavenging capacity of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion (O2−), H2O2, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) than butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA). In vivo, dietary supplementation with COS alleviated the H2O2-induced oxidative damage, evidenced by comparatively increasing activity of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH, and T-AOC, and comparatively decreasing level of MDA in serum, liver, spleen, and kidney. COS also comparatively alleviated the H2O2-induced inflammation. In conclusion, COS supplementation reduced lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant capacity in Sprague Dawley rats, which were challenged with H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Effects of dietary supplementation with a probiotic (Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health status in weaning pigs" in the April 2017 issue is presented.

We conducted this study to compare the effects of lactic acid bacteria complex (L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. lactis, L. plantarum, S. thermophilus, and B. longum) and Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 in weanling pigs. A total of 120 weanling pigs (24-day-old) were used in a 5-week feeding trial. Pigs were allotted into three dietary treatments: CON, basal diet; LA, CON + 0.1% lactic acid bacteria complex; EF, and CON + 0.1% E. faecium DSM 7134. From days 0 to 14, days 15 to 35, and the overall period, average daily gain was higher (P < .05) in EF than that in CON. Higher gain:feed ratio was also observed in EF compared with CON during the overall period. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy was greater (P < .05) in LA and EF compared with CON on days 14 and 35. Faecal Lactobacillus counts were increased (P < .05) and faecal pH was decreased in LA and EF compared with CON on days 14 and 35. Results of the current study indicated that E.faecium DSM 7134 has better effects on growth performance than lactic acid bacteria complex in weanling pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]